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ALVA L. EAST, OF DOWAG-IAC, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF '10 GLENN W.

MEAD, OF DOWAGIAC, MICHIGAN.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVA L. EAST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dowagiac, Cass county, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in boxes.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an improved box for use as a berry box or the like, which may be shipped in the flat or knock-down, and may be readily and quickly assembled by the user. Second, to provide an improved box adapted to be made of light material, such as light paper board, or the like, which may be shipped or stored in the flat or knockdown, and assembled without stapling or gluing, and when assembled, is strong and rigid. Third, to provide an improved box which is very economical in structure and which is formed of cheap material, and may be formed by a comparatively simple machine and with practically no waste of material.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

rIhe invention is clearly dened and pointed out in the claim.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved box. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section thereof. Fig. 8 is a plan of the side wall blank. Fig. 4 is a plan of the bottom blank.

In the drawing, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, the side walls are formed of the blank shown in Fig. 3, which has five side wall portions, as l, 2, and 3. The blank is preferably formed of paper board, scored at 4, to facilitate folding, the blank being bent on these scoring lines when the box is set up.

The end-portions 3 of the side wall members are overlapped, as is clearly shown in Figs. l and 2. These end wall portions 3 and the central portion l are provided with horizontal slits 5, the slits in the end wall portion 3 registering when the box is set up.

I provide circular openings 6 at the ends of the slits, which permit the portions of the walls immediately above and below the slits to be deflected easily, and also, these circular openings prevent to a large extent tearing at the ends of the slits. The bottom is formed of a blank, consisting of a bottom portion 7 and side wall portions or members 8, 8, the blank being scored at 9 to facilitate the side wall members, the side wall members being on opposite edges of the bottom. These side wall members 8 have V-shaped slits l0 therein, to provide downwardly-projecting V-shaped tongues ll, which are, when the box4 is erected, passed through the slits 5 in the side walls, one of the tongues being passed through both of the slits in the overlapped end portions, as shown in Fig. 2. Circular openings 12 are preferably formed at the ends of the slits 10, so that the tongues are more readily deflected and enter and engage the slits more effectively, and also so that the blank is less likely to be torn at the end of the slits when the parts are assembled.

The bottom 7 is formed so that it ts the side walls and serves to brace and support the same and is suspended a little above the bottom edge of the said side walls. The side members 8 on the bottom 7 are also of such size that the edges t into the corners of the side walls and brace and support the same.

My improved box is readily assembled without tools, and when set up, is very secure. rIhe blanks are formed without waste of material, and can be formed by very simple machines. rI`he box when set up is braced and secured so that it can be formed of quite light material and still be very strong and rigid.

I have shown my improvements as embodied in a berry box, although it is adapted for various other purposes. l/Vhen formed of paper board and adapted for use as a berry box, or the like, the inner side of the box is preferably paraifined or treated with some water-proofing material, which can be done when the material is in the'flat or before forming the blanks.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A box comprising' side walls formed oi a blank scored to provide iive side wall portions, the two end and the Central portions having' horizontal slits therein, the end portions being` overlapped with their slits registering;l when the boX is erected, and a bottom having' side wall portions on opposed 'edges formed of a blank scored to provide the side wall members, the side wall ineinbers having;` downwardly-projeating tongues struh out therefrom adapted to engage said horizontal slits in said side walls, one of the tongues being arranged through both slits in the overlapped side wall portions whereby said side is rigidly looked and the bottoni is suspended above the lower edge of said side walls, and the side walls are braced and retained in their erected position.

ln witness whereof, I have hereunto set iny hand and seal in t-he presence of two witnesses.

ALVA L. EAST. [n s] Witnesses Miss Jon BRESNAHAN, DON M. MOON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

